The tamaraw or Mindoro dwarf buffalo, Bubalus mindorensis, is a small buffalo of the family Bovidae. It is endemic to the island of Mindoro in the Philippines and is the only endemic Philippine bovine, though it is believed to have once lived on nearby Luzon too. It was originally found throughout Mindoro, from the coast to over 2,000 metres in the mountains, but because of hunting and habitat loss it is now restricted to a few remote grassy plains and is a critically endangered species. Contrary to common belief and past classification it is not a subspecies of the water buffalo or of the carabao. It is mainly nocturnal, can live about 20 years, and the most major factor threatening its survival is habitat loss, with hunting for food a further toll.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) ThreatsAgriculture and Aquaculture 1 ThreatsBiological Resource Use 1 Relationship to People Living or Extinct Conservation Status Activity Pattern Connections
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Source Tamaraw (Wikipedia)Lead, where it livesQuote, Lead, where it lives
It is endemic to the island of Mindoro in the Philippines, and is the only endemic Philippine bovine.
Sources
1. Tamaraw (Wikipedia)
Lead
The tamaraw was originally found throughout Mindoro, from the coast to over 2000 metres above sea level in the mountains, but because of hunting and habitat loss, it is now restricted to a few remote grassy plains and is a critically endangered species.
Lead, living or extinct
The tamaraw or Mindoro dwarf buffalo (Bubalus mindorensis) is a small buffalo belonging to the family Bovidae.
Habitat
It is typically found in thick brush, near open-canopied glades, where it may feed on grasses.
Trophic ecology
They are naturally diurnal, feeding during the daytime hours; however, daytime human activities have recently forced select B. mindorensis individuals to be nocturnal to avoid human contact.
Conservation
The most major factor threatening the survival of B. mindorensis is habitat loss due to infrastructure development, logging, and agriculture.
Conservation, relationship to people
Hunting of tamaraws for food and sustenance has also taken a toll on the species' numbers.
Life history
The tamaraw is known to live for about 20 years, with an estimated lifespan of about 25.
Lead, where it lives
It is endemic to the island of Mindoro in the Philippines, and is the only endemic Philippine bovine.
View the SourceArtiodactyla (Wikipedia)
In Group: Even-Toed Ungulates (Artiodactyla), Inner systematicsQuote, In Group: Even-Toed Ungulates (Artiodactyla), Inner systematics
The bovids (Bovidae) are the most species-rich family.
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